Normandy American Cemetery Visitor Center - Colleville-sur-Mer - France
Posted by: Groundspeak Premium Member RakeInTheCache
N 49° 21.544 W 000° 51.090
30U E 656008 N 5469592
[EN] The Normandy American Cemetery in France opened in May 2007 to tell the story of the 9,387 Americans buried there. [FR] Un nouveau Visitor Center a ouvert ses portes au Cimetière américain de Normandie en mai 2007.
Waymark Code: WM7ATJ
Location: Normandie, France
Date Posted: 09/28/2009
Published By:Groundspeak Regular Member Mark1962
Views: 44

[EN] Sixty-three years after Allied troops stormed the beaches of Normandy to turn the tide of World War II in Europe, a new visitor center at the Normandy American Cemetery in France opened in May 2007 to tell the story of the 9,387 Americans buried there and put the D-Day landings and follow-on battle in Europe in perspective as one of the greatest military achievements of all time.

The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 15 to September 15, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year. There is no charge for admission.

The $30 million visitor center was dedicated by the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) on June 6, 2007 during the commemoration of the 63rd Anniversary of D-Day. The center is sited in a wooded area of the cemetery approximately 100 meters east of the Garden of the Missing. Normandy is ABMC's most visited cemetery, receiving approximately one million visitors each year.

One-third of the building's 30,000 square feet is dedicated exhibit space. Using personal stories of participants and a mix of narrative text, photos, films, interactive displays and artifacts, exhibits portray the competence, courage and sacrifice of Allied forces.

The visitor center is designed to complement and enhance the experience of visiting the cemetery. By relating the global significance and meaning of Operation Overlord, the center pays tribute to the values and sacrifices of the World War II generation. After experiencing the cemetery and the center, visitors will have a greater appreciation of those participating in the Normandy invasion, the achievement of America and her Allies in conducting the greatest amphibious invasion in history and the importance of honoring our war dead.

In honoring the brave Americans who lie far from home, as well as those who survived the battle, the center will inspire future generations to explore, understand and emulate the values for which they gallantly fought. It also conveys a sense of remembrance and provides visitors an opportunity to reflect upon a pivotal moment in World War II and realize how dramatically it affected the course of world history.

[FR] Soixante-trois ans après que les troupes alliées ont changé le cours de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale en Europe en prenant d'assaut les plages normandes, un nouveau Visitor Center a ouvert ses portes au Cimetière américain de Normandie en mai 2007. Son but : raconter l'histoire des 9 387 Américains qui y reposent et mettre en perspective le Débarquement et les combats qui l'ont suivi à travers l'Europe comme l'un des plus grands succès militaires de tous les temps.

Le Visitor Center est ouvert tous les jours de 9h00 à 18h00. L'entrée est gratuite.

Le Visitor Center, dont la construction a coûté 30 millions de dollars, a été inauguré le 6 juin 2007, pendant les cérémonies annuelles de commémoration du Débarquement. Le centre est situé dans un endroit boisé du cimetière, à une centaine de mètres à l'est du Jardin des disparus. De tous les sites funéraires dont l'ABMC a la charge, le cimetière de Normandie est le plus fréquenté : il accueille environ un million de visiteurs par an.

La surface du bâtiment est d'environ 2 800 mètres carrés, dont un tiers est consacré à l'exposition. A partir de récits personnels d'acteurs de cette épopée et d'un mélange de textes, de photos, de films, de présentations interactives et d'objets d'époque, les salles d'exposition donnent à voir la compétence, le courage et le sacrifice des forces alliées.

Le Visitor Center a été conçu pour compléter et approfondir l'expérience qu'est la visite du cimetière. Il rend hommage aux valeurs et aux sacrifices de la génération des combattants de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale par la mise en évidence de la signification et de la portée mondiale de l'Opération OVERLORD. Après avoir vu le cimetière et le centre, le visiteur appréciera mieux ceux qui ont participé au débarquement de Normandie et le remarquable exploit des Etats-Unis et de leurs alliés qui ont mené là la plus grande invasion amphibie de l'Histoire. Enfin, il comprendra l'importance d'honorer nos morts.

Par cet hommage aux courageux Américains qui reposent loin de chez eux, ainsi qu'aux survivants des combats de Normandie, le Visitor Center incitera les générations futures à examiner, comprendre et adopter les valeurs pour lesquelles ils se sont battus avec tant de vaillance. Le centre transmet aussi un sens du souvenir ; il offre au visiteur l'occasion de réfléchir à un moment décisif de la Deuxième Guerre mondiale et d'en mesurer le formidable impact sur le cours de l'histoire du monde.
Hours of Operation:
The visitor center is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from April 15 to September 15, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. the rest of the year.


Public Washrooms: Mens and Womens Only

Snacks/Drinks at the facility: No - Look elsewhere

Visit Instructions:

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